Party Shuffle (these things take so long to write)

The first 15 shuffled songs that come up on my iTunes (no skipping!):

"Julia"
The Beatles
The Beatles (White Album)

A hauntingly beautiful song.

The opening line that Lennon uses ("Half of what I say is meaningless / But I say it just to reach you") isn't nearly as good as the original line of Khalil Gibran's poem "Sand and Foam" that he was inspired by ("Half of what I say is meaningless, but I say it so the other half may reach you."), but that's just a minor complaint.


"Never Meant"
American Football
American Football

When it comes to those one-man singer/songwriter wonderkids, Mike Kinsella lags far far behind the rest of the pack (Dylan, Oberst, Ryan Adams, etc., etc). But what I will give him credit for is his obvious appreciation for fine literature. In his body of work, he's referenced the work of Ernest Hemingway, Oscar Wilde, J.D. Salinger, and Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Anyone who name-drops characters from One Hundred Years of Solitude in his song titles is cool by me.

"One More Night"
Stars
Set Yourself On Fire

"The best indie rock on the planet right now comes from Canada."

Find a way to inconspicuously sneak this quote into a conversation at any party/show/dinner/Whole Foods/Obama rally and you're guaranteed to sound like the smartest person in the room. And that because a) everyone will undoubtedly agree with you, and b) it's true.

This isn't my favorite song though, just because I prefer it when Amy takes lead vocals.

"Change Clothes"
Danger Mouse
The Grey Album

Opening the track with a sample of "Piggies" was perfect. And the bassline from "Dear Prudence" is there too, you just have to pay extra attention at the very end.

I don't even like the original version of this song that much, but this really puts me in the mood for more Hov now.


"Say It Ain't So"
Weezer
Weezer (Blue Album)

"Flip on the tele' / Wrestle with Jimmy"

Haha.

And my favorite thing about the video is the four of them standing around playing hacky sack.

Oh, and I don't know if they've definitively settled on this one yet, but here's the amazing photo of what will most likely be the cover for their upcoming Red Album:



"Grace Kelly with Wings"
Piebald
If It Weren't for Venetian Blinds, It'd Be Curtains For Us All

It's album titles like these (along with dozens other album and song titles) that I love this band so much: they're able to be tongue-in-cheek funny without being eye-rolling obnoxious.

And this song really picks up around the 1:00 mark.

"Shampoo Suicide"
Broken Social Scene
You Forgot It In People

Again, "the best indie rock on the planet comes from Canada" would be entirely appropriate here. Say it and you'll be universally applauded.

If you've got four uninterrupted minutes to listen to listen to all-enveloping, wide-spread jamming, this would be a decent choice.


"Shake That"
Spank Rock
Spank Rock and Benny Blanco Are...Bangers & Cash

The thing I like most about Spank Rock is that his lyrics are so outrageous, so overtly sexist and blatantly over-the-top that you can't get offended by any of it -- it's all in the name of fun.

And I'm not joking, I want to incorporate gold rope into my wardrobe:


"LAX"
Big D and the Kids Table
How It Goes

There are a lot of things I like about ska -- the checkerboard vans slip-ons, the suspenders, the skanking. But my absolute favorite thing is the horn section. And this song has great horns in abundance.


"Don't Hate Me"
The Get Up Kids
Four Minute Mile

Simply put, my favorite Get Up Kids song off of my favorite Get Up Kids album.





"Come Close"
Common
Electric Circus

This album ranks decisively behind (and by a wide margin) Resurrection, One Day It'll All Make Sense, and Be, but I can appreciate how he stuck his neck out and really experimented with this album. It's different, it's spaced-out, and it doesn't always work, but at least he pushed himself by reaching for something new. I can respect that. And when in doubt, regardless of the outcome, it's always better to add MORE funk to your album than less funk. Haha.

And I like the guest vocals by Mary J. Blige on this track.

"What Goes On"
The Beatles
Rubber Soul

It's a Ringo song, which is usually fun. And even if can't enjoy his vocals (which are always endearingly flat and nasally), just take out your left headphone and listen exclusively to the right one; Ringo's vocals will drop out and you'll only hear John's pitch-perfect harmony.

"The Razor"
Head Automatica
Decadence

What I can totally appreciate about Daryl Palumbo is the seamless transition he made from the post-hardcore Glassjaw to dance/electronica side project in Head Automatica (and by the same token, Gabe Saporta made the same transition from pop-punk Midtown to dance/electronica Cobra Starship). He wanted to do something fun, so he went ahead and did something fun. None of this stuff is meant to be taken too seriously; it's only supposed to be enjoyed. I can really buy into the care-free mindset. As a matter of fact, if I were to start up a little side project of my own, I would follow the EXACT same blueprint. I'd have a keytar, a couple of able guitarists, funky basslines, synthesizers, drum machines, and a single, unquestionable frontman. None of my song will be about ex-girlfriends. We won't try to solve the meaning of life. I'd purposely avoid making any of our material overly deep or profound; absolutely no metaphors or allegories that are too heavy. My band's only object would be having fun. We'll sing about dancing, making money, chasing girls, buying things, getting laid, dressing sharp, and being beautiful -- that's it, I wouldn't be interested in focusing on too much more beyond that. My band would be an endless party.

...now, with all of that being said, I like this song's chorus, but overall I rank it one of the lesser tracks on the entire album.

"Just The Way You Are"
Billy Joel
The Stranger

It's in Billy Joel's nature to often be schmaltzy, but this is too schmaltzy. And the saxophone in this track is monumentally lame...and this coming from someone who fondly remembers his days playing alto sax in band class as a kid.

And I disagree with the underlying message of this song: it's okay to love someone just the way they are, but that it isn't to say you shouldn't also encourage them to continue to grow and learn and adapt and improve. This song seems to be a subtle endorsement of complacency.

(Disclaimer: the Beatles' "Hey Bulldog" came up here, but I already blogged about it in another entry, so I think it's fair to skip on to the next song)

"You're So Vain"
Carly Simon
No Secrets

I wonder if Warren Beatty has this song on his iPod?

What I Had For Dinner 5/29/08

Shrimp in a tamarind-based soup with string beans, okra, and daikon radish.

It was great; the soup had a very deep, rich shrimp flavor because it was cooked with the shells still on. And considering that I ate dinner late and was left with just the last leftovers at the bottom of the pot, it would've been twice as good if I had it fresh.

It's a crime that okra is as underused and underappreciated as it is.

Headlines (Whistle-blowing long after the fact; Yeah, we know, it's expensive; Give him a break, he's autistic; Jarvis to coach FAU Owls)

Ex-White House spokesman Scott McClellan attacks Bush in his new book

The White House is reeling today over the unexpected lashing it is taking from a former loyalist brought to Washington from Texas to make history as a proud member of George W. Bush's administration.

Scott McClellan, who was on the podium as press secretary during both the Iraq war and Hurricane Katrina, rips the administration in a new book, saying the president was "not open and forthright" about the war and that the administration was relying on "propaganda" and "manipulating" public opinion in the run-up to war. -- Los Angeles Times

I don't doubt at all that the majority of McClellan's criticisms of the Bush administration -- the deception, the insincerity, the incompetence -- are completely legit. But that doesn't exonerate him for being a total hypocrite. He complains of our government's ineptitude, but as the U.S. Press Secretary, it was HIS JOB to represent the presidency to the common man. He was the head liaison of this administration; the direct conduit between them (the government) and us (the citizens). The presidency duped him, but in turn (whether knowingly or unknowingly), he duped us. And as much as I hate to agree with Karl Rove and Ari Fleischer, they have a point: he held his position for three long years and not once voiced any disapproval of his employers. Even if he was fully aware of all the internal problems going on (and at the sake of looking like completely oblivious, I'm going to give him the benefit of the doubt and assume he knew what was up), he repeatedly stood straight-faced in front of his podium during press conferences and assured us that all was well with the nation.

And even when he "resigned" in 2006, it had less to do with him making any kind of moral stand and more to do with his higher-ups pressuring him to step down in favor of his eventual successor, Tony Snow. So theoretically, if he was never strong-armed into quitting, it isn't too much of a stretch to assume that he would have kept going into work everyday, kept supporting an inadequate administration, and kept feeding us half-truths (or, in some cases, bold faced lies) through the media. That's called aiding and abetting. If your friends rob a bank and somehow trick you into being their getaway driver, okay, fine, I guess I can find someway to rationalize that. But after the 10th time, there's no way around it, you're guilty...or stupid, one or the other.

When it comes down to it, McClellan wants to make money. That's the whole point of these juicy, sensationalist Tell-All books. And I don't fault him for that, but unfortunately, it makes a noble endeavor (exposing a mediocre administration for what it is) a lot less noble.

I wouldn't waste my money on this. The new Chuck Palahniuk novel about the porn star trying to break a world record by banging 600 guys on film recently came out; that seems like a better investment.

A shocker! S.Fla. prices shatter the $4-per-gallon mark

Average prices for regular gas broke records Wednesday, topping the $4-per-gallon mark for the first time in Palm Beach and Miami-Dade counties with Broward not far behind, according to the American Automobile Association.

Palm Beach County had the highest average price in the area, at $4.03 for regular gas, followed by Miami-Dade at $4.01 and Broward at $3.97.

Statewide, the average price has jumped 70 cents since March to an all-time high of $3.94 — the national average, too. Just a year ago — on May 16, 2007 — Florida topped the $3 per gallon mark for the first time. -- Sun-Sentinel

This reminds me -- I need to get gas before I drive up to Boca tomorrow.

Gas prices have gotten so ridiculously out of control these days that I think I've ceased to get mad about it anymore. It's so surreal and unfathomable that, no kidding, it's starting to become FUNNY. It's become a big joke to me and I'm half-expecting someone to tell us this whole thing has been a big April Fool's gag and now we can all have a good laugh about it.

Seriously, check out that picture: $4.39 (and 9/10!) for supreme. Haha, in a sadistic sort of way, that's really funny.

Mom says teacher let classmates vote autistic son out of class

Melissa Barton said she is considering legal action after her son's kindergarten teacher led his classmates to vote him out of class.

After each classmate was allowed to say what they didn't like about Barton's 5-year-old son, Alex, his Morningside Elementary teacher Wendy Portillo said they were going to take a vote, Barton said.

By a 14 to 2 margin, the students voted Alex -- who is in the process of being diagnosed with autism -- out of the class. -- Sun-Sentinel

Wow, that's awful. In a way, I could almost condone an adult striking a child in a brief instant of an anger, because at least then it can be attributed to an immediate and visceral reaction. But this -- parading a student to the front of the class, advising his peers to point out what they don't like about him, and then banishing him from the room -- this takes an alarming amount of premeditation. It wasn't just a fleeting lapse in judgment; it was cold, calculating, and cruel. A full-grown adult showing type of immaturity and pettiness towards a defenseless child is highly abnormal. Simply terminating this teacher would actually be letting her off easy; she should be forced into therapy for her obvious bully complex. Behavior like this goes beyond garden variety callousness (which we're all guilty of) and starts getting into the realm of crazy-evil.

At least with corporeal punishment, I can come up with a few scenarios in which it would be justified. But public, hyper-personal humiliations like this, especially at such a young age, is very unsettling.

Jarvis signs 4-year deal to coach FAU

Finally! After what seemed like weeks of heel-dragging and indecision on FAU's part, we finally have a new head coach -- Mike Jarvis. And I completely endorse the hiring. Our basketball program has always lagged behind in comparison to, say, our football program, when it comes to making considerable forward progress. It feels like they've been running in place for years. But if I have to give FAU's athletics department credit, they always seem to hire the right guy (or at least who seems to be the right guy) to coach our basketball team.

Everyone we hire has the experience, the credentials, and the know-how to succeed here: Matt Doherty won a national championship while playing at North Carolina, was a teammate of Michael Jordan's, and then later coached at his alma mater; Rex Chapman made it to a Final Four while playing at Kansas, studied under great coaches like Larry Brown and Pat Riley, and had a long (albeit unspectacular) career in the NBA that spanned over a decade. And then we have Mike Jarvis, who I believe still holds the all-time wins record at Boston University (with a few NCAA Tourney appearances), took George Washington University all the way to a Sweet 16 (I most remember them almost beating the Fab Five Michigan Wolverines, then later, those teams with Erik Dampier), and then took St. John's to the Elite 8 in the late 90s (this was back when Ron Artest was there and considerably less psychotic). So the man is accomplished.

I don't know if he'll be the one to finally get this program on track and start making some national noise, but considering his track record, all the indications point to him having success here. He wins wherever he goes, so that's exactly what I'm expecting from him. I can see the quality of our recruiting classes improving exponentially, just based on his notoriety and name recognition. I think he'll do a great job; FAU absolutely made the right choice.

And as if I couldn't support this decision enough, from afar, Jarvis looks like a slightly slimmer "Uncle Phil" from the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.

What I Had For Lunch 5/28/08

An order of Hemingway rolls (white fish tempura, cucumber, lettuce, mayo), then a half of an egg salad sandwich on wheat with a side of potato chips.

The egg salad sandwich was decent, but the sushi was amazing. The white fish tempura was really meaty with a lot of substance and bite to it, so it was really filling. I alternated dipping it between soy sauce and eel sauce.

I read over the menu backwards and forwards, and had a hard time picking what I wanted (so many of the rolls sound so similar and so good), but my academic training eventually made my decision for me. It truly was A Moveable Feast.

What I Had For Breakfast 5/28/08

I ate pancakes with an expensive bottle of "REAL" 100% maple syrup that I bought the other day. Supposedly, because it's made from "REAL" maple syrup (painstakingly harvested by hand from maple trees in the frigid woods of the north) it's supposed to be infinitely better than the "FAKE" mass market stuff that's mostly just amber-colored corn syrup, like Aunt Jemima and Log Cabin and Mrs. Butterworth.

But truth be told, that's a load of bullshit. It isn't any better; in fact, it isn't even as good. It does a good job of making you think it's a superior product (it comes in a heavy glass bottle, which FEELS classy), but the only real difference is it's lighter in texture and viscosity, with a more subdued flavor. And if a more subdued flavor is supped to denote some kind of vaguely ambiguous complexity to its taste, that you somehow have to strain your palette to appreciate its true worth, then forget it. Any pro-"REAL" maple syrup talk is just pretentious foodie propaganda. I prefer the "FAKE" stuff.

What I Had For Dinner 5/27/08

A hot dog with ketchup, spicy brown mustard, and a baby pickle. It was a satisfying dinner, and the only thing I would've added to it would be diced onions. On the side, I also had potato chips, cheez-its, and a very juicy orange.

When I was at the supermarket, I agonized over getting Hebrew Nationals or Sabretts. Eventually, I went with Hebrew National. Nathan's brand hot dogs ranked a close 3rd place.

And I had a hard time finding a picture for this entry that wasn't too ridiculously phallic.

What I Had For Dinner 5/22/08

Steamed mussels with breaded and fried tilapia fillets, tomato salsa, and rice.

It was so good. And the best part of the whole meal is the mussel broth. It's flavored with onion, ginger, scallions, and cracked black pepper. And because of the mussels, it ends up tasting so salty and briny.

I want to eat this a lot more often.

What I Had For Dinner 5/21/08

Today is actually the 23rd. I've been too busy/lazy lately to update my blog accordingly. So technically, this meal is long gone and digested already.

But anyway, Pollo Tropical.

Retired Players I Hated Watching #3 ("Whoop-dee-damn-do")

Derrick Coleman

I didn't hate watching him because he sucked. It was actually the exact opposite -- I hated watching him because he was one of the most talented power forwards I'd ever seen but never put forth ANY effort.

For real, one of the most talented and multi-faceted forwards I'd ever seen. At 6'10 and 230 lbs. (the listed weight on his profile is bogus, but I'll get to that in a second), he could literally do anything on a basketball court. He could bring the ball upcourt, control the flow of an offense, and throw no-look passes like a point guard. He could shake defenders with crossover dribbles, play above the rim, and shoot all the way out from behind the arc like a shooting guard/small forward. And he could play with his back to the basket, defend the paint, and dominate the boards like a power forward/center. He was capable of playing every position, 1 through 5. Basically, he was Kevin Garnett before there was a Kevin Garnett.

But he never played hard. I followed him throughout his career -- watching him play as he moved from New Jersey to Philadelphia to Charlotte -- and he was always half-assing. If his teammates gave 100%, he'd barely give 60%. He'd settled for jumpshots instead of working for a higher percentage shot, jog (when he should be sprinting) back on defense, let loose balls roll out of bounds instead of hustling after them, not chase the fastbreak after a turnover, and all-around zone out once his team fell behind by double-digits (which was often, because his Nets and Sixers teams were awful). That's a sign of complacency. He was O.K. with settling and mediocrity and losing; none of that seemed to bother him much. He was a lazy bum that was content with doing JUST ENOUGH to keep tricking his teams into cutting his million dollar paychecks.

But to be fair, I'm sure a lot of professional don't have the world's greatest work ethic. I'm sure plenty of them don't necessarily spill their blood and guts on the court every single night and still manage to help their teams win ball games. So I think the biggest reason why Coleman was such a failure wasn't entirely because of his lack of work ethic, but moreso because of his complete negligence of physical fitness. When he first came into the league from Syracuse as the No. 1 overall pick, he was thin and lean and svelte. But after a few short years, he was a fat slob. There was no tone or definition in his arms, he jiggled when he ran, and he had droopy cow tits. After only half a quarter, he was already heaving and drenched in sweat (if I were to put money down, I'd be willing to wager that sweat smelled like bacon grease). He always looked like he was on the verge of having a heart attack and that's because he never took care of himself. I don't know the guy (never have, never will) but I can already tell just by looking at him that his diet was high in saturated fat, he didn't put any extra time in the weight room, and he didn't lift a finger during the offseason when he wasn't playing. And this is what I never understood about players like Shaq, Antonie Walker, Oliver Miller, and any other flabby ball players -- they run back and forth constantly for a living, they get more cardio workout in a month than most people get in a lifetime, so how could you ever POSSIBLY be out of shape? That's so unfathomable to me. If you're perpetually running, you're going to be perpetually toned. There's really no way around that. So if you're always running and you're somehow anything to the contrary, you must be putting an epic amount of effort into living as unhealthy as humanely possible. Like I said above, his listed weight is 230 lbs., but throughout the peak of his career, there was no way he was any less than 260, and when he was playing out his final few seasons with Philly and Detroit, I wouldn't be surprised if he topped out at around 280 lbs. He was massive. And all of that extra weight anchored him to the ground and kept him from doing all of the things -- running, jumping, shooting, dribbling, passing, scoring -- that came so inherently natural to him.

And then of course, there was all his legal problems. Arrested while attending Syracuse for harassment and disorderly conduct. Arrested multiple times as a Net and Sixer for run-ins with police officers. Arrested for pissing in a Detroit restaurant. Arrested for multiple DUIs. And worst of all, getting into a car wreck (while drunk, I'm sure) that nearly killed his Hornet teammate Eldridge Recasner as he sat in his passenger seat. So not only is he lazy and overweight, but he's also a lousy human being with poor character.

For four straight seasons, he averaged about 20 points, 11 rebounds, and 3 assists. And that was barely even trying. Imagine if he actually cared about his craft. So yeah, I didn't hate watching him because he couldn't play -- I hated watching him because he didn't play hard.

Derrick Coleman's career statistics

What I Had For Dinner 5/21/08

Shrimp tempura (also with asparagus, sweet potato, onion, and zucchini tempura) and an inside-out dynamite roll.

I was starving. And now I'm not.

What I Had For Dinner 5/19/08

I picked up an Italian sausage/mushroom pizza and chicken wings (with flat bread and roasted onions) from Anthony's Coal Fired Pizza.

The best meal I've had in days, easy.

I can't wait to order from them again.

What I Had For Breakfast 5/19/08

Chocolate Chex.

It wasn't as chocolaty as I thought it would be, but still good.

What I Had For Lunch 5/18/08

From Ruby Tuesday, half of a triple prime burger and half of a bison bacon cheeseburger. And fries, dipped in ketchup and spicy mustard.

And for dessert, a stack of pancakes and a piece of butter cream cake.

My nap is forthcoming.

What I Had For Breakfast 5/18/08

An everything bagel (from Einstein's) and one fried egg.

What I Had For Dinner 5/17/08

I had lechon asado, palimino steak, french fries, plantains, and rice & black beans from Padrino's.

I got it To Go, so everything was already cold and the french fries were soggy by the time I ate. But whenever I just eat it there, it's always good.

What I Had For Lunch 5/17/08

Walked over to Baja Fresh after work and got a chicken burrito ultimo with chips.

I also stalked up on all the sauces (both the spicy red one and the green mild one), pickled jalapeño peppers, and salsa.

I only ate half of it so now I have leftovers to get excited about tomorrow.

What I Had For Breakfast 5/17/08

Eggs, hash browns, and a bagel.

It was so heavy I felt like going right back to sleep afterwards.

Headlines (Fit; Stimulus; MySpace; Twins; O.J.)

Are you ready to get fit? Take the test

If you didn't get a Presidential Physical Fitness Award in school, the government is giving you another chance to prove you're in shape.

The test involves three basic components: aerobic fitness, muscular strength and flexibility. The test is for people 18 and older who are in good health.

The aerobic component of the tests consists of a one-mile walk or 1.5-mile run. The run is not recommended for those who don't run for at least 20 minutes, three times a week.

Push-ups and half sit-ups make up the strength test. The push-ups are done until failure. The sit-ups are done for one minute. -- the Sun-Sentinel

I never took the Presidential Fitness test as a kid, so I'd be interested in taking this new test. And as long as I'm not asked to do any pull-ups, I'd definitely pass it.

Glitch delaying government delivery of stimulus checks

There's a glitch in the government's plans to pump $150 billion into the economy by sending taxpayers a rebate: The rebates aren't arriving. Potentially, millions of taxpayers who were expecting to have their money by today will be waiting for their checks until June or July.

In addition, an IRS spokesperson in Florida confirmed Monday that some economic-stimulus payments have gone to the wrong bank accounts. -- the Sun-Sentinel

Whoops.

I have direct deposit and still haven't received mine yet, so I'm guessing this is the reason.

It's funny how if you fail to pay the IRS, you can get thrown in jail. But if the IRS fails to pay you, well, sucks for you.

That's demanding accountability without showing accountability. Double standard.

I want my money.

Mom indicted in MySpace suicide case

A federal grand jury on Thursday indicted a Missouri woman for her alleged role in perpetrating a hoax on the online social network MySpace against a 13-year-old neighbor who committed suicide.

Lori Drew of suburban St. Louis allegedly helped create a false-identity MySpace account to contact Megan Meier, who thought she was chatting with a 16-year-old boy named Josh Evans. Josh didn't exist.

Megan hanged herself at home in October 2006 after receiving cruel messages, including one stating the world would be better off without her. -- MSNBC.com

This is one of the more disturbing stories I've read in a long time.

Apparently this mother is so cruel and so cold-hearted (not to mention so BORED...this must've taken up a lot of her free time) that she went through the trouble of setting up a phony MySpace account with phony pictures, phony friends, phony interests, and phony comments all for the sake of helping her daughter win a petty grudge match against a classmate. Orchestrating this diabolical plan, a plot this intricate and convoluted, obviously took a lot of time and effort. And that's the typical behavior of a seriously SOCIOPATHIC individual. That kind of commitment to the destruction of others is scary. I think this mother needed a hobby. Maybe gardening, or baking, or pilates. Anything would do, really, just as long as it kept her from picking on high school students.

And though I feel bad for the family that's been left behind in shambles, I can't completely exonerate the suicide victim from all of this. It might sound horrible to say this, but shame on her for lacking any sense of confidence or self-worth. She was convinced to kill herself by a FICTITIOUS MySpace profile. She killed herself over a "boy" she only knew on the internet and never met in real life. She killed herself over someone who didn't even exist. Again, I feel awful for her family, but that's pathetic. If she was weak enough to commit suicide over an internet insult, then she was already inclined to commit suicide over anything else equally trivial. I don't think it's not too much of a stretch to imagine her hanging herself over, oh I don't know, a paper cut.

9-year-old girl's twin is found inside her stomach

A 9-year-old girl who went to hospital in central Greece suffering from stomach pains was found to be carrying her embryonic twin, doctors said Thursday.

Doctors at Larissa General Hospital examined the girl and surgically removed a growth they later discovered was an embryo more than two inches long.

Andreas Markou, head of the hospital's pediatric department, said the embryo was a formed fetus with a head, hair and eyes, but no brain or umbilical cord.

Markou said cases where one of a set of twins absorbs the other in the womb occurs in one of 500,000 live births. -- the Sun-Sentinel

Sick.

O.J.'s girlfriend suffers 2 broken legs in Miami accident

A highway patrol official says O.J. Simpson's girlfriend has been seriously injured in a car accident in Miami.

Florida Highway Patrol Lt. Pat Santangelo says Christie Prody was injured early Saturday morning after pulling over to an expressway emergency lane because she had two flat tires.

When the 32-year-old got out and walked around the car, Santangelo says she was hit by another car. Her head and arms went through that car's windshield.

She was airlifted to Ryder Trauma Center at Miami's Jackson Memorial Hospital where Santangelo says she was still being treated Wednesday for broken legs. -- the Sun-Sentinel

Haha, I didn't realize there were people in the universe willing to actually date O.J. Simpson. She must be one of those daredevil types who go over Niagara Falls in a barrel or lion-tame or jump through flaming hoops on a motorcycle. The kind of person who likes staring death in the face and gets a thrill out of defying it.

That, or she was just a really big fan of the Naked Gun movies.

What I Had For Breakfast 5/16/08

Peaches & Creme Oatmeal.

I bought a variety pack that has 10 packs in total: 2 strawberry, 2 blueberry, 2 banana, and 4 peach. Seeing as how peach is the weakest flavor (it's so faint, you can barely taste it), I'd say it makes perfect sense. Those Quaker Oats guys are smart businessmen.

I should've had the strawberry instead.

What I Had For Dinner 5/15/08

First, a salad with shredded ham, croutons, and bacon bits.

Then, turkey breast with vegetables, stuffing, and cranberry sauce. For a microwavable TV dinner, it was pretty decent.

I'm very full.

Retired Players I Loved Watching #10 (he suffered from Tourette's Syndrome and legally changed his name after converting to Islam)

Chris Jackson aka. Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf

As a 6'1" 160 lb. undersized shooting guard, he was basically an early prototype version of Allen Iverson. Same size, same style, even same jersey number.

He could basically only do one thing -- scoring the basketball. But he was so potently adept at it. He was relentless. He could literally score from anywhere on the court, in any possible way. With his unlimited range and pinpoint accuracy, he was a threat from well behind the arc and was a threat to rise up and drill a jumper at any time. Using his elite stamina and endurance, he was constantly moving without the ball, running laps around the floor and curling off screens, so he would constantly find himself wide open 18-feet out at the elbows for an easy midrange jumpshot. And because of his blinding first step and quick handles, he was capable of blowing by any defender off the dribble and going up for an uncontested lay-up. So he was nearly unstoppable. He had that well-rounded skillset that could expose any kind of defensive scheme. if you crowd him on the perimeter, he'll juke you out of your shoes and take it to the lane. And if you give him room, he'll just launch a feathery-soft jumper in the blink of an eye.

He was completely worthless when it came to certain things (play defense, guard bigger players one-on-one, run an offense, control his team's tempo), but he excelled as a pure, cold-hearted scorer. His averages of 19, 18, 16, and 18 points-per-game in his last 4 years as a Denver Nugget can attest to that. He was someone who could heat up in a hurry, strike multiple times from the perimeter in a short amount of time, and was a threat to explode for 30+ points on any given night. He never enjoyed much team success -- and that's because, like Iverson, his very distinct playing style wasn't conducive to overall team coherence and continuity -- but he was always fun to watch. He looked like a hummingbird out there, buzzing incessantly from one end of the court to the other, and then back again. It's like he constantly had Red Bull coursing through his veins. It's as if he took all the debilitating effects of his Tourette's (the twitching, the hyperactiveness, the inability to stay still) and used them to his advantage, becoming an unguardable scorer. All of that pent up energy so entertaining to watch.

But of course, what most people remember Abdul-Rauf for were his controversial political views. He was quoted as calling the American flag "a symbol of oppression" and that the U.S. was guilty of a "history of tyranny," and most notably, he caused a firestorm when he refused to stand for the Star-Spangled Banner as its played before each game. I'm all for free expression, but that shouldn't be accepted as an all-encompassing excuse for being blatantly unpatriotic. Nothing is imposed on anybody here, that's the beauty of this country. However, there still should be a set Mendoza line for common courtesy and dignified decorum. As a free citizen of a free nation, Abdul-Rauf isn't obligated to sing along to the national banner, isn't obligated to recite it, isn't even obligated to place his hand over his heart. That's fine. But if absolutely nothing else, as an American citizen, he owes it to both his country and his fellow countrymen to respect the sanctity of the tradition and for the sake of reverence, to put forth at least the BARE MINIMUM of effort. Simply standing for a mere moment isn't too much to ask. And anything less than that shows an alarming lack of class.

Chris Jackson aka. Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf's career statistics

What I Had For Lunch 5/15/08

Morningstar buffalo wings with white rice and chopped up tomatoes, green onions, and cilantro.

It was great, especially because I haven't had it in so long.

What I Had For Dinner 5/14/08

Just leftovers from last night's ultimate Publix sub.

I asked for them to go really light on the oil and vinegar, so it wasn't soggy at all.

What I Had For Lunch 5/14/08

Cheese ravioli with thick pieces of Texas garlic toast.

I think I slightly undercooked the ravioli, but it was still good. And really filling.

What I Had For Dinner 5/13/08

A Boar's Head ultimate sub (with everything on it, I'm not a fussy eater) with kettle-cooked potato chips. And then a cheeseburger (with lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and sauteed mushrooms) with french fries.

For dessert, I had strawberries, cheetos puffs, chocolate animal crackers, and an orange.

It was a feast. It was like Thanksgiving dinner.

Party Shuffle (as usual, I resisted the urge to skip past the bad songs)

Here are the first 15 shuffled songs that come up on my iTunes...

"Particle Man"
They Might Be Giants
Flood

While I wouldn't go as far as saying that this is the BEST song that's ever come up on one of these "Party Shuffle" entries, I could very easily argue that this is the most FUN song that's ever come up.

It's exactly 1 minute and 59 seconds of catchy, nonsensical perfection.

"(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, & Understanding"
Elvis Costello & the Attractions
Armed Forces

It comes from an otherwise good album ("Accidents Will Happen," "Oliver's Army," "Senior Service," "Moods for Moderns") but I'm not crazy about this song. The chorus bugs me -- "And each time I feel like this / There's one thing I wanna know / What's so funny about peace, love, and understanding? / Ohhh" -- and makes me cringe a little bit every time I hear it. I don't know, maybe I'm just that jaded; maybe I'm anti-peace and anti-love and anti-understanding.

"Sell My Old Clothes, I'm Off To Heaven"
Saves the Day
Bug Sessions Vol. 1

Hearing an acoustic version of one of my favorite Saves the Day songs has a sort of gimmicky, kitschy value upon the first and second listens. But shortly after that, as with most acoustic covers, you get bored with it and wanna hear the original (amplified) take.

Although I will say their acoustic version of "Jodie" is pretty good.

"Smoke Two Joints"
Sublime
40 Oz. to Freedom

I obviously can't relate directly to anything about this song, but it's still really fun somehow.




"Art is Hard"
Cursive
The Ugly Organ

"Cut it out - your self-inflicted pain / Is getting too routine...Well here we go again / The art of acting weak..."

Not only is this an amazing song (from an overall amazing album) but it's helped define my life philosophy -- the meek shall NOT inherit the Earth.

The lyrics of this song taught me that being weak and soft and timid won't get you anywhere. Sensitivity isn't an excuse for failure. It's kill or be killed. There's nothing admirable or endearing about being a constant victim. Nothing will be handed to you, so if you want it bad enough, you'd better go out and take it. And if someone grabs it first, take it from them. Not to be overly melodramatic, but the key to success really is all about being bigger, faster, stronger.

A lot of the popular music that came out when I was 15-18 years old capitalized on the inclination of teenagers being sniveling, hesitant, and forlorn. And while that sappy kind of stuff served my purposes fine as a kid, this song directly helped shape the adult I would become. That may sound like a lot of credit to give to a two and a half minute song, but it's true.

"Losing My Religion"
R.E.M.
Out Of Time

This is arguably their biggest hit and I don't like this song at all. Normally, I'd just skip right by it. Or, if I was feeling especially generous that day, I'd just tune it out and let it play listlessly in the background. Although I want to make it clear that, as a whole, I do like this album a lot.

And if I were to shoot off on a quick R.E.M. tangent, I think they're one of those rare cases of a band actually being NEGATIVELY effected by their own prolificacy. Their body of work is giant...and that ends up being kind of a bad thing. Meaning, they've produced so much quality stuff in their career, but by virtue of the sheer amount of music they've created over the years, they've also managed to produce a lot more garbage. I'm sure they don't regret releasing so many albums in such a short amount of time (nor should they), but that just allows for a lot more opportunity to fail.

"Waste of Paint"
Bright Eyes
Lifted or The Story is in the Soil, Keep Your Ear to the Ground

Connor has grown a lot as a songwriter over the years, but there's something that will always be charming about the lack of polish and ragged edges of these earlier releases.

The earnest repetition of the opening acoustic riff and his typical hesitation of hitting certain syllables to throw off the song's measure is what makes this track great. And he has an awesome delivery of the line "I knew a woman, she was dignified and true / And her love for her man was one of her many virtues."

"Mykel and Carli"
Weezer
The Blue Album Deluxe Edition: Dusty Gems and Raw Nuggets

Back in '04, they re-released my beloved Blue Album in celebration of it's ten year anniversary. The "deluxe edition" remastered the original tapes and included a second disc of obscure B-sides and live tracks. I remember FYE was selling it for something ridiculous like $30 or something. Coming from a diehard Weezer fan, there really isn't anything about this re-release that's absolutely essential and doesn't really need to be bought. But this song is actually one of the few bright spots of a second disk that's mostly unlistenable. As many people know, I have a natural distaste for most live (or in this case, partially live) albums.

"We Will Survive"
Nas
I Am...

I don't care much for the singing in the chorus, but I can appreciate the name-dropping of Biggie, Pac, the Commodores, Al Green, and (especially) Smokey Robinson.

And yeah, I like the track "Hate Me Now"...even with Diddy.


"Shoulder to the Wheel"
Saves the Day
Through Being Cool

I don't consider this an exaggeration at all: from the age of 15 to about 17, this was very likely my absolute FAVORITE non-Beatles song. The two seconds of screeching feedback that opens this song is the single most recognizable, most reminiscent sound of my high school years.

"Kiss"
Prince
Parade

If "Particle Man" is the 1st most fun song that I've ever blogged about, than "Kiss" is very possibly the 2nd most fun song, haha.

"I just want your extra time and your...[insert jangly guitar strumming]...kiss"

This track is so awesome. I'm gonna replay it at least one more time once it ends. lol

"No, Not Now"
Hot Hot Heat
Make Up The Breakdown

When it first came out, this album was catchy and dancey and energetic. But now, I can't stand it. It's obnoxious, his singing voice grates on the nerves. I think this album (as well as this general sound that came out of this general time period) has basically outlived its usefulness to me.

"Under the Boardwalk"
The Drifters
Greatest Hits

The washboard (or whatever it is) that they play throughout this track is extremely soothing. It's like the sound of a babbling brook or rain fall on a tin roof. They should include it on one of those white noise machines you can get at The Sharper Image to help you fall asleep at night. And I mean that to be complimentary, because I do like this song.

"Hey Baby"
No Doubt
Rock Steady

I definitely appreciated No Doubt getting back to their ska/reggae/calypso Jamaican roots, but wow, this song (specifically the heavy-handed chorus) gets so annoying, so fast.


"Monday, Monday"
The Mamas & the Papas
If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears

I normally find the vocals of the Mamas & the Papas really drab and dreary and droning, but I do enjoy this track.

And it's common knowledge that this urban legend has already been debunked, but Mama Cass did not die choking on a ham sandwich.